What do you think?
Rate this book
Whistler #2
Alice in La-LA Land
Down-on-his-luck private eye Whistler becomes enmeshed in the corruption, depravity, lust, and violence that lurks behind the facades of the rich and beautiful when he takes the job of protecting Nell Twelvetrees from her sadistic, estranged husband
269 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1987
2 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Robert Wright Campbell
34 books15 followersA screenwriter who turned to writing novels. Many of his earlier books were published as by R. Wright Campbell but later works were credited to Robert W. Campbell or simply Robert Campbell. He also published one book as F.G. Clinton. For more, see his obituary in the Los Angeles Times.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 24, 2017
Took a step back from the first one, but just enough to make me want to read the next one.
January 1, 2019
I got it for 10 cents at the library as a throw away book while on vacation. This book is an example of why I stall away from detective books.
January 19, 2024
Mr, Campbell embraces the mean streets of LA, hard-boiled style. Screenwriter, author and occasional actor. He was the brother of actor William Campbell . I will be searching for more of his bo0ks,
March 22, 2025
I enjoyed it. Very seedy. I know Hollywood is weird, but is it this weird? It's probably weirder. Which is a scary thought. Decent plot, good characters, great dialogue, some good twists.
June 11, 2011
I bought Alice in La-La Land from the Daly City library three years ago because I liked the title and the bold cover art. I then sent it around the world on a book ring. It came home after we moved and I've now finally read it. Was it worth the wait? Yes and no.
The book is a sequel and it is set in the seedier parts of Los Angeles (Hollywood and Vine, aka "La-La Land" and Venice Beach) and it revels sometimes in its crassness. It often times takes too long to explain all the different ways of being a hooker and all the different forms of sexual identity but more for shock value and less for plot or character development.
The setting , language and characters did not bother me but repetition of "shocking" things did bore me. After a while I just wanted the story to get on its way.
For all its crass language, sex, debauchery and murder, the book ended up reminded me of an old episode of Charlie's Angels, namely, "Angel Trap" (Season 1, episode 13), in which Jill befriends an assassin, Jericho, in order to set a trap for him. I even pictured Connor Spinnernan, the antihero detective and assassin, as looking somewhat like kitten-loving Jericho.
A theme of both stories is that even "bad" people have their reasons and have their reasons for how they ended up doing what they do. Jericho and Connor come off as sympathetic characters even though they can both kill quite coldly when needed.
Although I enjoyed the book, I found the story dragged in places, especially in the many scenes used to show just how deserving Roger Twelvetrees is of his fate. It doesn't take more than a scene or two to show that he is a foul, misogynistic and violent control-freak. It also doesn't take long to figure out that he may be the target, rather than the one paying for a hit. Fortunately there are other more interesting twists, those of which I won't share here.
The book is a sequel and it is set in the seedier parts of Los Angeles (Hollywood and Vine, aka "La-La Land" and Venice Beach) and it revels sometimes in its crassness. It often times takes too long to explain all the different ways of being a hooker and all the different forms of sexual identity but more for shock value and less for plot or character development.
The setting , language and characters did not bother me but repetition of "shocking" things did bore me. After a while I just wanted the story to get on its way.
For all its crass language, sex, debauchery and murder, the book ended up reminded me of an old episode of Charlie's Angels, namely, "Angel Trap" (Season 1, episode 13), in which Jill befriends an assassin, Jericho, in order to set a trap for him. I even pictured Connor Spinnernan, the antihero detective and assassin, as looking somewhat like kitten-loving Jericho.
A theme of both stories is that even "bad" people have their reasons and have their reasons for how they ended up doing what they do. Jericho and Connor come off as sympathetic characters even though they can both kill quite coldly when needed.
Although I enjoyed the book, I found the story dragged in places, especially in the many scenes used to show just how deserving Roger Twelvetrees is of his fate. It doesn't take more than a scene or two to show that he is a foul, misogynistic and violent control-freak. It also doesn't take long to figure out that he may be the target, rather than the one paying for a hit. Fortunately there are other more interesting twists, those of which I won't share here.
Currently reading
February 8, 2017=======================================================================================================================================================================================================================================================
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2008
ALICE IN LA-LA LAND - Poor
Campbell, Robert - 2nd in Whistler series
The environs of Los Angeles are as much a part of Campbell's new Whistler novel as are the many and varied street types, the over-paid celebrities and their hangers-on. Whistler is hired to protect Nell Twelvetrees, third wife of an aging TV personality with a yen for under-age hookers and a set of psychological problems straight from a textbook.
I struggled through this. He just isn't my style.
Campbell, Robert - 2nd in Whistler series
The environs of Los Angeles are as much a part of Campbell's new Whistler novel as are the many and varied street types, the over-paid celebrities and their hangers-on. Whistler is hired to protect Nell Twelvetrees, third wife of an aging TV personality with a yen for under-age hookers and a set of psychological problems straight from a textbook.
I struggled through this. He just isn't my style.
February 27, 2013
This was a 'different' book. Right away I learned a few new words..some I will use in the future! Gonif..twangie boy..catamite..and more. (I especially like 'twangie boy')
A book of sad lives..absolutely sad.
A book of sad lives..absolutely sad.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews